England v Pakistan Test Series 2026.

[sussexpob]

I think that we also need to look at generational norms in averages. The average wicket has dropped under 30 now in test cricket as scores have lowered, so people like Archer/Tongue/Carse aren't performing that well relative to the elite standard, let alone the average. If you transferred their performances to other eras like the 2000s, the relative performances would be like having a core attack that averages somewhere between 34-38 a wicket, which wouldn't have bought you a prolonged career.

I tend to think that people view their performance on an all time scale, and that 28-31 averages are seen as ok, but the normal has shifted a few runs downwards. The figures now represent bang average or below average era performances.

[Arthur Crabtree]

He didn't fill his boots v Ireland or Zimbabwe though. He did v India and Australia.

Pundits sometimes remove the weak opposition from an analysis, but unusual to downgrade the stats v the top sides.

But as you say, it's a short career. I thought England were reluctant to get him back in the side after his injury- and hasty to repick Archer- so I'm pleased JT's getting a bit of a run now. I agree he seemed a bit flat v NZ.

[alfie]

Think Sussex's criticism of Tongue is a little overdone. 7 of his 12 Tests have been against Australia and India so he can hardly be said to have embroidered his figures against minnows. In fact (if you want to play "selected stats) it is only some pretty grim figures against NZ in that recent series that push his average up from a highly respectable 26

Is he the finished article ? Maybe not ; still inclined to be loose at times , and certainly his performances in that Kiwi Disaster Series were a little disappointing (though I do think he was a little unlucky with more than his share of fielding errors and just plain bad luck on the near things). Strike rate remains impressive ; but sure , he still has to perform now against Pakistan. (Like a lot of his teammates !)

I am remaining bullish for now about his prospects. And hopeful : because heaven knows England need someone to move up to the top level in the bowling ranks (not even mentioning the batting !) : you just don't replace a Broad and Anderson combination overnight.

At the same time I am hoping to see more signs that Robinson is continuing to bring back the promise of a few years ago. Two very different types but if they both fire then the attack could have a bit of a cutting edge in the immediate future...

[alfie]

Am also noticing a general lack of interest in this match given zero posts here for five days preceding it !

Only Pakistan ? Mourning the departure of Stokes (I know I still am ) perhaps ? Or everybody too fascinated by The Hundred ?

That last was a joke by the way

Not the most exciting England XI we have seen lined up recently. Lot of players with plenty to prove though so have to start somewhere ... I will still be tuning in. Would think they start favourites against a Pakistan side that hasn't had a great recent record and might struggle in English conditions : though what the conditions will be like given the crazy heatwave business is anyone's guess !

Hope Joe Root can get his latest captaincy spell off to a decent start...

[bigfluffylemon]

I am struggling to summon up much enthusiasm for this series. Two big disappointments v Oz and NZ, all the turmoil, this now feels very low key. It's also a bit meaningless in the bigger picture - if England win (as they should at home) it's 'only' Pakistan, if they lose it's embarrassing but a bit of a free hit as Fleming isn't in the role yet and the players won't be settled after all the kerfuffle, so it would be hard to read much into it either way. And we are already out of contention for the WTC, not that England have ever given any indication they cared about that anyhow.

[Durhamfootman]

I confess to be not remotely interested in this series. Feels to me like a period of flux where England cricket is just going through the motions

Besides.... the CC run in starts tomorrow

[andy]

I will happily watch it but I believe forecast isn't looking great?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Six years since England played at home to Pakistan. England won the three match series 1-0, with Zac Crawley making 267 in a drawn game in Southampton.

Joe Root was skipper. Top run scorers for England were Crawley, Buttler and Woakes. Most wickets from Broad, Anderson and Woakes.

For Pakistan Azhar Ali, B.Azam, Masood/Yasir, M.Abbas, SS.Afridi

England XI...

Sibley
Burns
Crawley (Stokes)
Root*
Pope
Buttler
Woakes
Bess
Broad
Archer (S.Curran)
Anderson

The second and third Tests were in Southampton, due to the logistics of covid restrictions. Both draws! Though the second was due to weather. Zero attendance. TV umpires.

Third Test, Anderson reached 600 wickets.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The Joe Root as captain, excluding his recent caretaker role.

Won 27/27 lost
Draws 11

Batting average as captain 46.4


Last few series...

H lost 0-1 to NZ
A lost 0-1 to WI
A lost 0-4 to Australia
H lost 1-2 to India (under Root but won other match a year later under Stokes to draw series)
H lost 0-1 to NZ
A lost 1-3 to India

[andy]

England win the toss and choose to bowl...assuming the weather helped with that decision

[Arthur Crabtree]

England will bowl, which feels like a surprise.

Though it's Leeds and cloudy, so...

[andy]

Rain due in an hour...Pakistan gone with Ali Usman as the spinner

[sussexpob]

Think Sussex's criticism of Tongue is a little overdone. 7 of his 12 Tests have been against Australia and India so he can hardly be said to have embroidered his figures against minnows. In fact (if you want to play "selected stats) it is only some pretty grim figures against NZ in that recent series that push his average up from a highly respectable 26

The erratic nature of his performances have been well noted across the board, and especially in the India series he was spraying it all around and getting some luck with the odd wicket, or following dire spells with magic balls. As I said above, vs NZ the magic ball became less and less, and all that was left was the spray and pray around the wicket. If we wants to survive at this level against good sides, he has to be tighter, he cannot keep bowling like a drain and expecting to get lucky.

In his defence, I do think that the selection has not helped him (or the others). Picking 4 man pace attacks with no spinner in record heatwaves for instance was dumb. As was picking Overton at the Oval when he hadn't played a FC game in 2 years and couldn't bowl.

The result by memory was Tongue bowling a 12-13 over spell for 0/80 killing himself to make up for Rob Key's idiocy in picking half fit shock and awe bowlers who can only bowl 3 over spells twice a day

[Arthur Crabtree]

Duckett
Gay
Cox
Root
Brook
Lawrence
Smith
Atkinson
Robinson
Archer
Robinson (edit- Tongue)

[sussexpob]

Robinson playing twice... what a new ball attack that is